16-17 May 2010

Over the course of a head-spinning 2-day, 5-dive frenzy we fetched 3 instrument platforms, re-deployed 4 instrument platforms and collected samples from 4 different locations. The action was so quick, it was sometimes hard to know whether we were coming or going! Fortunately, our chief scientists Mairi Best and Brian Bornhold kept everything straight, and we were able to check off plenty of tasks on our to-do list.

Platform Shuffle

The end of this flurry left us left with only one instrument platform on deck, Barkley Benthic Pod 2, which we hope to return to the seafloor shortly. Each of the others was cleaned and refurbished by NEPTUNE Canada instrument manager Reece Hasanen and contractors Kim Wallace and Jason Williams. Problematic instruments were removed, and some new instruments were added.

Sample Collection

With the help of ROPOS, we collected "push core" sediment samples at Barkley Benthic Pods 1, 3 and 4. These were processed on-ship by graduate student Katleen Robert, and will be sent to collaborating scientist Paul Snelgrove at Memorial University for further analysis.

ROPOS also helped us collect two "benthic islands" from Barkley Canyon axis. These clumps of hard clay support an unusual profusion of life, and will be studied closely by benthic ecologists.